Grinder Productions

Centre Wellington's Home to Theatre that Dares to be Different

Grinder's Grumblings

Our History

Grinder Productions was born in February 2004 with a staged reading of Seeing Red, followed by four more staged readings in the spring of 2004. Home Farm, the first full production, opened October 27th, 2004. In the summer of 2005 the company began operating out of its second venue, the Ennotville Library, bringing theatre back to the historic building after an absence of several decades. In March 2006 Grinder Productions began a partnership with Vision Financial and local businesses to produce the Agatha Christie Revival Showcase, dedicated to the production of plays by Agatha Christie. The first show, Spider's Web, was an unqualified hit. In 2007 the Grinder's summer theatre activities expanded to include two productions at the Belwood Hall.  This was followed in the fall of 2007 by the birth of Stage 4, Grinder's newest division at the Elora Centre for the arts.

Our Theatres

The Fergus Grand Theatre

244 St. Andrew St. West, Fergus

Grinder Productions produces its fall, winter and spring seasons at the Fergus Grand Theatre. The Fergus Grand Theatre is located at 244 St. Andrew Street West, in downtown Fergus. The theatre opened in 1928 at a silent movie house and operated in this capacity up until the mid- seventies. It was then converted to a live performance space in the early 80’s by the Elora Community Theatre. As ECT grew a number of offshoot companies were born, and they too used the Grand Theatre. Today several community groups and theatre companies are based out of The Fergus Grand Theatre, and it is operated and owned by the Parks and Recreation department of the Township of Centre Wellington.  For more information on the Fergus Grand and the many theatre companies and other organizations that call it home, please visit their website at www.fergusgrandtheatre.on.ca.

The Ennotville Library   

7722 Sixth Line, Nichol Township

In the summer the company moves to the historic Ennotville Library. The stone structure was built in 1847 by the pioneer settlers of Nichol Township, who already had a thriving library and wanted a more suitable location to store their collection. It remains today as the only library in Ontario without a paid librarian, with books signed in and out by library members on the honour system. The library has also functioned as a meeting place, community hall, mechanics institute, Sunday School and many other things in its long and illustrious history, including as a theatre, with performances dating back to the early part of the twentieth century. Grinder Productions is honoured to be able to assist in the continuing viability of this unique cultural treasure.

Belwood Hall

Queen Street, Belwood

After the summer of 2006 we decided that one summer theatre wasn’t enough at Grinder Productions, so the search was begun for another “hidden treasure” in Centre Wellington where we could put on plays.  After careful consideration, we chose the Belwood Hall. 

Situated in the picturesque community of Belwood, the theatre is on the shores of Lake Belwood, a popular tourist and cottage destination. 

The Belwood adventure began in the summer of 2007 with two great shows that people were still raving about months later! 

Elora Centre for the Arts

75 Melville St, Elora

Stage 4 is the Elora division of Grinder Productions, and the newest. It is upon this stage that we present shows we wouldn’t normally consider in our other venues, such as new plays, plays that may contain coarse language or other discretionary content, or plays that will be of interest to those who don’t enjoy “traditional” theatre experiences.

I hope you’ll be able to join us for the adventure!

Eric Goudie, Creative and Executive Director, Grinder Productions